(Korea Baduk Association Foundation) and (Korea Baduk Association) Sign MOU... Unified Voice on National Project Confirmation for Construction
Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Woo Seung-hee) signed a 'Joint Cooperation Agreement for the Attraction of the National Baduk Training Center' with Jeollanam-do, the Korea Baduk Association Foundation, and the Korea Baduk Association on the 27th at the Jeonnam Provincial Office.
According to the county on the 28th, the agreement ceremony established a cooperative system to confirm the national policy project for the construction of the National Baduk Training Center and to successfully attract the training center to Yeongam-gun.
At the signing ceremony attended by 14 professional players from the Korea Baduk Association, including the legendary Korean Baduk player Lee Chang-ho, Jeong Bong-su, president of the Korea Baduk Association, and Han Sang-yeol, vice president of the Korea Baduk Association Foundation, promised strong cooperation.
They are holding a commemorative photo after signing a cooperation agreement for attracting the National Baduk Training Center at the Jeonnam Provincial Office. [Photo by Yeongam-gun]
Yeongam-gun, the hometown of Go master Cho Hun-hyun and home to the Cho Hun-hyun Baduk Memorial Hall, along with Jeollanam-do, plans to invest 45 billion KRW of national funds in the Hoemun-ri area of Yeongam-eup to establish Baduk infrastructure such as an education center and accommodation facilities once the agreement bears fruit. They will also work on branding Yeongam as the 'Representative Baduk Region' and creating a Baduk-specialized area.
Yeongam-gun will complete the related feasibility study currently underway by the end of next month and jointly propose the confirmation of the national policy project for the construction of the Baduk Training Center and Yeongam-gun's location to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with the agreement institutions.
Since 2014, Jeollanam-do has been hosting the 'Guksu Sanmaek International Baduk Tournament,' which attracts over 1,100 domestic and international professional players, rotating annually among Yeongam, Gangjin, and Sinan counties.
If the National Baduk Training Center is successfully attracted to Yeongam-gun, Jeollanam-do and Yeongam are expected to lead the popularization and globalization of Baduk culture and contribute to revitalizing the local economy.
Governor Woo Seung-hee stated, “To promote K-Baduk and reestablish the status of Baduk, Yeongam-gun, which produced Go master Cho Hun-hyun, will take the lead in attracting the National Baduk Training Center.”
Park Chang-hwan, Jeollanam-do's Deputy Governor for Political Affairs, said, “We will add vitality to the region by creating large-scale Baduk infrastructure and strive to popularize Baduk and expand its cultural base through world-class Baduk tournaments and various experiential events.”
Baduk is not only excellent for brain development such as concentration but also teaches mutual courtesy and coexistence, making it one of the best sports for healthy leisure. Therefore, the establishment of Baduk infrastructure at the government level is urgently needed.
In the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, Korea won one gold, one silver, and one bronze medal, with the men's team gold medal being a remarkable achievement that proved Korea's competitiveness in Baduk after 13 years.
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